Harbor High”s Cory McElyea primed himself for a dominant senior season by finishing second at the San Francisco City Golf Championship on Sunday at Harding Park Golf Course.

Ex-Cal Bear standout George Gandranata edged McElyea 1-up in the 36-hole final, putting an end to a tournament that began Feb. 12. with stroke-play qualifying at Lincoln Park in San Francisco.

McElyea said he struggled with his final-round putting and missed a 6-footer to force extra holes on the 36th hole.

“I played really well throughout the entire event, so there are no complaints,” said McElyea, 18. “I played well the last four or five weeks. I normally play well in [bad weather] conditions. This tournament kind of suits my game.”

Well, it did until the final. Tee boxes were pushed back to where they played at the President”s Cup, forcing McElyea to adjust his game plan and play longer lines to the green. It shouldn”t have been a problem, even in wet and windy conditions; he just didn”t play a complete round, like his opponent.

“He was consistent,” McElyea said of Gandranata. “He made a lot of greens and a lot of putts. My putting was a big difficulty. I missed a lot of 5-footers.”

McElyea, who will compete for University of Washington next season, was awarded two medals after his round Sunday: one for his runner-up finish and one for earning medalist honors in stroke play.

Carlos Briones, the defending champion of the prestigious event –” which started in 1917, making it the country”s oldest municipal tournament –” was given the top seed for match play. McElyea shot the low score, a 72, during qualifying for medalist honors, but assumed the No. 2 seed behind Briones.

All match play matches were held at Harding Park.

McElyea opened the round of 64 on Feb. 20 with a 4 and 2 win over Mike Furlong. In the round of 32 a day later, he beat Burlingame High junior Tommy Economou 3 and 2.

In McElyea”s best match, he earned a 3 and 1 victory over Cal State Monterey Bay player Ricky Stockton in the round of 16 on Feb. 27.

“I was 5-under on my own ball and he took me to the 17th hole,” McElyea said. “He was playing well, too, so that made it a lot of fun and a good match.”

And last Sunday, in the quarterfinals, McElyea dominated ex-St. Mary”s College player and current Gaels coach Scott Hardy 6 and 4. In the semifinals on Saturday, McElyea beat current Gaels golfer Eric Grimberg 3 and 2.